The Cuban shortstop Jhonny Damon Proenza, 18 years old, is training in the Dominican Republic with the goal of signing a professional contract with a Major League Baseball (MLB) organization, according to sports journalist Francys Romero's report on his platform beisbolfr.com.
Proenza left Cuba in March and has since been training at the AVOFJ Academy, where he is working to refine his skills and attract the attention of MLB scouts.
Romero described the young player as "a shortstop with skill and contact with several organizations that have shown interest so far," although no hiring agreement has been announced yet, nor have the names of the involved teams been revealed.
The player went through all the stages of Havana's youth baseball, from the 11-12 age category up to the youth level, and his last competitive appearance on the Island was at the 2025 National U-18 Championship, whose final phase took place in Sancti Spíritus from May 25 to 30 of that year.
In that tournament, the Havana team was eliminated in the western semifinal, held in Villa Clara, without making it to the medal round.
The shortstop position is one of the most sought-after in the international MLB market due to the combination of defensive and offensive demands it requires, which partially explains the interest sparked by Cuban prospects in that position during the 2025-2026 international signing period.
In January 2026, three Cuban shortstops signed notable contracts: Rubén Gallego agreed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 1.8 million dollars, Jaider Suárez with the Kansas City Royals for 1.7 million, and Joniel Hernández with the San Diego Padres for 1.4 million dollars in international signings.
Proenza's case is part of a trend that has continued to grow throughout 2026: at least a dozen young Cuban baseball players have taken the same route to the Dominican Republic between March and October, including pitchers, catchers, and outfielders aged between 15 and 21.
The Caribbean country has established itself as the main platform for transit and preparation for Cuban prospects, as its academies offer facilities, specialized training, and direct access to scouts from Major League organizations.
The Camagüey pitcher Edenis Cruz, 19 years old, is the latest example: last Saturday, he agreed to his signing with the Texas Rangers for $145,000 after also training in the Dominican Republic, although the agreement is pending official confirmation.
The next international signing period for MLB opens on January 15, 2027, a date that marks the most likely window for Proenza to turn the interest of franchises into a formal offer and thus take the first step into organized baseball in the United States.
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